Is it okay to change
the truth of a personal story’s ending?For
instance saying, “the ending is not what I wanted it to be, so I’ll make it
more…inspirational, funny, or adventurous.”I have heard some storytellers say that it’s fine to take some liberties
with the truth.I just read a comment
quoted from Kendall Haven (and I am paraphrasing, since I can’t find the
original), “I am telling the truth as it was supposed to have happened”.Others are purist to nth degree.

[Short side
note:I think Kendall Haven is
amazing, www.kendallhaven.com.He would never remember me, but
early when I started on the road he encouraged me and I will never forget
that.Amazing speaker.Intelligentsia of Storytelling.Read his book “Story Proof”.]

When I tell a
personal story, I try hard to keep it to the truth….as I know it.If you ask my sister, my parents or my son if
certain stories I tell are truthful, they will say “not always”.My sister says I exaggerate so much, she
never knows the truth.[Remember she is
my “baby” sister, and not always to be believed.J]However, upon further dissection, when I ask her about a story, she has
some of the same elements, just told through different eyes.

The other side of
that is, she (and the rest of my family) tell stories that I don’t remember at
all.I have tried to plunge into my
mind’s depths and I come up empty on their story.[Stop, don’t go there:I don’t have just emptiness in my mind’s
depth.]Sometimes one of them will tell
a story that they feel I should definitely know and I’m clueless.Does that make their story a
fabrication?No, because what is
important to one person is irrelevant, or so disturbing or embarrassing to be
remembered.(I don’t have any
embarrassing moments in my life…..at least that I remember.)

Let me be more
specific.On my most recent CD I share
my personal story about meeting children for the first time at an orphanage in
Vietnam*.The story ends
with a good feeling, because that is where I chose to end it.I didn’t
end it at the point when my missions team colleagues found out that the
children had been initially afraid of me, and they were distressed.I didn’t like that ending, there was too much
explanation needed.Or I could have
changed the ending to have a more “Kumbayah” moment.However, the ending I chose is just right (at
least for me), not everything sewed up tight, but a satisfied smile.

The truth is not
always flashy, it’s not always funny, it sometimes makes us look bad.However, that truth sharing could be just what
someone else needs to learn.And if we
really are struggling with how a story ends, well, go and listen to my friend,
and one of storytelling heroes, Bil Lepp, and make your story the great tall tale.Only a “Half-Dollar” of truth needed in a
tall tale.Enjoy my truthless (except
maybe a few parts), “Malawian Hippo Love Story” http://youtu.be/Iz95311ZYp8